Washtub-cover.



F. H. TROW.

WASHTUB COVER.

APPLICATION FILED JANA, 1909.

, Patented May 23, 1911.

- lwum r Alt brneys.

Witnesses Tm: NORRIS PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, n. c.

FREDERICK H. TROW, OF LEONIA, NEW JERSEY.

WASHTUB-COVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1911.

Application fi1ed January 4, 1909. Serial No. 470,599.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. Tnow, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Leonia, county of Bergen, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Washtub-Cover, of which the following is a specification.

The object I have in View is the production of a cover for wash tubs and analogous structures, which may be readily folded into a small compass.

The invention is particularly applicable to set tubs arranged in front of windows, in which there is insufficient room for an ordinary single piece hinged cover to be raised without obstructing the light.

Further objects are to produce a cover which will be cheap to construct, easily attached, durable and easily opened and closed.

These and further objects will more fully appear in the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a cover, embodying my invention, in closed position, showing a tub and window casing in section; Fig. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the cover shown in Fig. 1, showing it partly closed, the rear sections only being illustrated; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the front sections; Fig. 4 is a cross section through the line l& of Fig. 1 but on an increased scale; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a hinge used for connecting the sections of the embodiment already illustrated; Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a cover and supporting frame, showing a different form of hinge; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the hinge illustrated in Fig. 6; Figs. 8 and 9 are sections on the lines 8-8 and 99, respectively, of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section on a reduced scale of a modified form of cover and frame; and Fig. 11 is a similar View of the same, showing it in partly closed position.

In all views like parts are designated by the same reference characters.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a cover 1, which is adapted to inclose the tub or other structure 2. The cover 1 may be attached directly to the tub or to a frame 3 resting thereon. In the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the cover is directly attached to the tub. In the structure, illustrated in Fig. 6, the cover is shown as attached to a frame 3, which is adapted to rest on the upper edge of the tub.

The cover is shown as made in sections, four of such sections (a, 5, 6 and 7) being illustrated in the drawings. The number of sections necessary is not invariable and may be increased or diminished as desired. These sections are adapted to be connected together by hinges or joints, so that the sections can fold one upon another. When folded they will assume the position shown in the broken lines, in Fig. 1, lying in folded condition at the back of the tub and will also leave the top of the latter unobstructed. By proportioning the number of sections properly, so that their widths will not exceed the vertical distance from the tub to the window sill 9 (shown in Fig. 1), the cover when opened will fold up to a height less than the distance from the tub to the windowhence the light will be unobstructed by the cover when the latter is open.

The cover is supported upon a ledge 12. This ledge may be formed within the walls of the tub 2 or upon the sides of the frame 3 as shown at 12, if the latter is used. The ledge had best be a distance below the upper edge of the tub or frame equal to the thickness of the cover, so that the upper surface of the cover will be flush with the upper edge of the frame or tub. This, however, is not essential, if this feature of flushness is not desired.

For the purpose of facilitating the opening of the cover, I arrange that it may be opened by pressure applied to the front section 4, said pressure being in a horizontal direction which will pivot the sections one upon another, and permit the folding upof the cover. One way of attaining this end is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive. The hinges 8, between the sections 4 and 5 and between 6 and 7, are arranged adjacent to the lower edges of the sections, so that the joint may move upward. The hinges connecting the sections 5 and 6 are arranged contiguous to the upper surface of the section to permit the joint to move horizontally. Then the cover is folded, the hinges between the sections 4 and 5 and between 6 and 7 move upward as well as backward, while the hinges between the sections 5 and 6 simply move backward on the same horizontal plane.

For the purpose of facilitating the breaking of the joints by lifting up the joints between the sections 4 and 5 and between 6 and 7,1the following device is employed. To lift up the joints between the sections 6 and 7, the rear end of the section 7 is provided on each side with a pin 10 (Fig. 2). This pin travels in a curved slot'11. This slot may be formed in the sides of the tub 2 or in the sides of the frame 3 as shown at 11. The ledge 12 extends to a point which produces a fulcrum 13, which engages with the lower surface of the section 7. When the cover is moved backward the pin 10, engaging with the walls of the curved slot 11, will depress the end of the section 7 beyond the fulcrum 13 and will elevate the other end of the section, to which the section 6 is pivoted. This will break the joint at this point. This connection between the tub and cover constitutes a turning joint, causing the last or fourth sect-ion to turn up when pushed back. The pin 10 also serves as an anchor to prevent the cover from being slid forward toofar when it is opened, in addition to the function of pivoting the section 7 and lifting its hinged end upward to break joint when the cover is opened. The pin thus anchors the cover at the back of the tub. For the purpose of lifting up the hinged joint between the sections 4 and 5, I provide a pin 14 on each end of the section 4, which pin engages within a slot 15, formed where the cover is directly applied to the tub in the sides thereof above the ledge 12 (see Fig. 4), or engages a slot 15 where the cover is applied to the frame 3, within the sides of the latter above the ledge, as shown in Fig. 6. This slot is shown as a horizontal slot with an inclined extension 16 extending up to the upper edge of the tub and with a similarly inclined extension 16 in the frame. When the cover is slid back to be opened, the pin 14 will travel in the slot 15 or 15 until the pin reaches the inclined extension 16 or 16, when it will travel up such extension, lifting the pivoted edge of the section 4, and with it the section 5, breaking joint at this point. When the cover is closed the pins 14 will enter the upper edges in the extensions 16 or 16, and from there they will &travel to the horizontal slots 15 or 15. These pins 14 will serve the additional function of retaining the section 4 in place and preventing it accidentally being lifted.

I illustrate in Fig. 5 a suitable form of hinge, which may be used for connecting the several sections together. This hinge comprises straps 17, connected together by leaves 19, having offset extremities and connected together by links 20, such links being held in position by pins 21, which engage with the ofiset extremities of the leaves. The hinge, when opened, causes the 'two abutting faces of the leaves to roll together.

In order to prevent the leaves jamming,

the toothed sectors 2222 are employed, such sectors intermeshing. One sector is carried by each leaf. 7

In Figs. 10 and 11, I show a modification of my invention by means of which the pins 14 and the slots 15 and 16 are done away with. In this modification the upper edge of the tub or frame is cut away at 28 from a position coincident with the center of the cover when in closed position to the front thereof. This cut away portion is connected to the uncut away portion by an inclined surface 24. The section 4 is thicker than the other sections, such thickness being equal to the thickness of the other sections, plus the thickness of the cutaway portion 23, so that when resting on the cut away portion 23, all the sections will be flush on top. The section 5 has a downward extension 25, of depth equal to the thickness of the section 4, so that this edge of the section 5 also rests on the bottom of the cut away portion 23. One wall of the downward extension 25 at 26 is suitably inclined so that, when it engages with the inclined surface 24 during the opening movement of the cover, it will lift: the extension 25 and with it the hinged edge of the section 5 and break joint at this place. It is to be understood that the joint between the sections 6 and 7 is broken in the manner already described, by means of the pin 10, slot 11 and the fulcrum 13.

While I have illustrated and described my invention in connection with a wash tub, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be so limited. It may be employed in connection with an ice chest or any other receptacle which is provided with a cover.

In the claims I use the terms wash tub and wash tub cover, but I desire to have it understood that this is intended to cover the generic idea of a cover for a receptacle of any type. j r

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described-the principle of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that the invention can be carried out in other ways.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A wash tub cover formed of a plurality of connected sections supported on a ledge, one of said sections being anchored at the back of the tub; and means to cause all of the sections to fold and lie in folded condition on the ledge at the back of the tub.

2. A wash tub cover formed of a plurality of connected sections supported on a ledge and, pivoted together, one of said sections being anchored at the back of the tub, all of the said sections being movable to assume a vertical position on the ledge at the back of the tub, leaving the top of the latter unobstructed.

3. A wash tub cover formed of a plurality of connected sections, pivoted together, the rear edge of the rear section being anchored by a shifting oint, which will lift the other edge when the section is moved toward the rear.

A. A wash tub cover formed of four connected sections, pivoted together and engaging with a support; with means for breaking joint bet-ween the first and second sections by rearward movement of the cover, without the sections leaving the support.

5. A wash tub cover formed of four connected sections, pivoted together and engaging with a support, with means for breaking joint between the third and fourth sections by rearward movement of the cover, without the sections leaving the support.

6. A wash tub cover formed of four connected sections, pivoted together and engaging with a support; with means for breaking joint between the first and second sections, and between the third and fourth sections, by rearward movement of the cover, without the sections leaving the support.

7. A wash tub cover formed of a plurality of connected sections; a support therefor; and means carried by the support, whereby horizontal movement of the cover will cause a section to assume a vertical position.

8. A wash tub cover formed of a plurality of connected sections; a support therefor; a curved slot at one end of the support; a pin on a cover section, engaging with the slot, whereby rearward movement of the cover will tilt the cover section.

9. A wash tub cover formed of a plurality of connected sections; a support therefor; a slot and pin connection between the support and cover whereby rearward movement of the cover, will cause a pair of sections to assume a vertical position; and a cam carried by the support, to cause another pair of sections to assume a vertical position by the continued rearward movement of the cover.

This specification signed and witnesse this 31st day of Dec, 1908.

FREDERICK H. TROW.

Witnesses:

LEONARD H. DYER, JOHN L. LOTSOI-I.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

